Assembling apparatus



Jan. 26,1926.

E. G. MCCALL ASSEMBLING APPARATUS Filed Marsh 6, 1924 s sheets-sheet `2Jan. 26 1926.

E. G. MCCALL AssEMBLING APPARATUS Filed March e'. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR b Ml/W Atty?.

Patented Jan. Z6, 1926.

EUGENE Gr. MCCALL, OF'BUFFALO. NEW YORK.

ASSEMBLING APPARATUS.

Application led March 6, 1924. Serial No. 697,306.

To all whom t muy concern Be it known that 1, EUGENE G. MGCALL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erieand State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inAssembling Apparatus, of which the following is a. speciication.

rhis invention relates to an apparatus for use in assembling theimpellers, rotors or wheels of rotary fans or blowers and to holdI theseveral parts temporarily in their proper relative position until thesame have been securely and permanently connected with cach other byriveting, spotwwelding or oth erwise.

These fan wheels or impellers consist generally of a disk and ring,similar annular side members arranged side by side and an annular row ofwings, vanes or blades arranged transversely between the disk and ringand each having its opposite ends provided with tongues or tenons whichare secured in corresponding openings in the disk and ring. Considerableditiiculty has been experiencedheretofore in assembling the members ofthese fan wheels preparatory to securing them together owing to the factthat after a few blades have been mounted between the disk and ring thesubsequent mounting of further blades causes some of the previouslymounted blades to be thrown out, thereby necessitating doing much of thework over again and involving loss of time and increasing the cost ofdoing this work accordingly.

1t is the object of this invention to provide an apparatus whereby theassembling of the blades with the disk and ring, or side members of afan, impeller or wheel can be effected easily, conveniently,expeditiously and accurately without liability of any of the bladesslipping out of place after being once seated where they belong andthereby not only facilitate the building of these wheels, but alsoreducing their cost of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of an assembling apparatus embodying asuitable form of my invention and showing the parts of a fan wheelassembled therein, the section being taken on line 1-1, Figure 4. Figure2 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken on lineQMQ, Figure 5. Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of theassembling apparatus containing my invention. Figures 4 and 5 arehorizontal sections taken on the correspondingly numbered lines inFigure 1. Figure 6 is a fragmentary edge view of the ring of theimpeller.

Similar characters of reference indicate like parts in the severalfigures.

Although this assembling apparatus is primarily intended for holdingtogether the several parts of a fan wheel or impeller, it is to beunderstood that the same is also useful for assembling other objects ofsimilar construction which present like conditions. The fan impellershown in the drawings is therefore to be merely regarded as an eX- ampleof one article capable of being readily assembled by the use of myinvention. This impeller, as shown in the drawings, comprises a lowerring, an upper disk, and a plurality of blades, wings or vanes arrangedbetween the ring and disk. The lower ring comprises a web'lO, the planeof which is parallel with aline radiating -from the axis of the ring andinner and outer annular' flanges l1 and 12 projecting laterally from`the inner and outer edges 0f this ring. The

upper disk comprises a web 14 which is flat and arranged parallel' witha line radiating from the axis of this disk and an outer annular liange15 projecting laterally from the outer edge of web 14. This ring anddisk are arranged concentrically side by side and in the space betweenthe same is arranged an annular row'of transverse blades, wings or vaneseach of which has a body 16 which is curved about an axis arrangedparallel with the aXis of said ring and disk and has a convex front sideand a concave rear side. Each of these blades is provided at itsopposite ends with a pair of tongues or tenons 17 which engage withcorresponding openings 18 inthe webs of the ring and disk so that theends of the blade bodv engage with the opposing inner sides of saidwebs. The blades are secured to these webs by riveting the outer ends ofthe tongues over against the outer side of the webs, or by spot-weldingor otherwise treating the same so that the blades cannot become detachedfrom the ring and disk. In its outer liange the ring is provided with asight opening 13, preferably of triangular' form, as shown in Figure 6,and adjacent to its inner cdgesthe web of the disk is provided with anannular row of coupling openings 19, said sight opening being used tofacilitate assembling of this impeller with other parts and saidcoupling openings being desired to receive rivets, bolts, screws or thelike for attaching the impeller to the hub of a shaft whereby theimpeller is rotated within an appropriate housing or enclosing casing.

The assembling' apparatus forming' the subject of this invention is'designed to permit of easily and reliably assembling' the rino', diskand blades of the impeller in their proper relativeposition preparatoryto rigidly uniting' thein by riveting, soldering. welding' or otherwisesecuring` the tongues of the blades in the blade openings of the ring'and dish. In its preferred forni this assembling' apparatus, as shown`in the drawings is constructed as follows:

The numeral 2() rep-resents a bed or base which is provided on itscentral part with an upwardly projecting' reduced post 21 formino' anupwardly facing` shoulder 22, anda plurality of supporting arms 2Sprojecting' upwardly from the base at a distance from the central post.Upon the post is mounted 'a supporting' head which comprises a lowersupporting' plate composed of upper and lower sections 9A, 25 and acylindrical vhub 26 rising' from the central part of this plate. r'Phelatter is provided with a central opening' 27 which receives the post 21and rests on the shoulder 22 and the two parts of the lower 'plate andthe hub are detachably connected by screws 28, as shown in Figure 1. Onthe upper side of its marginal part .the supporting plate is providedwith an annular rim 29, the upper side of which is provided with anannular channel 30. During' the assembling; of the impeller the ring`thereof is mounted on this rim so that its flanges engage the inner andouter sides thereof. and the tongues at the lower ends of the bladesproject into the channel vof the rim. In the marginal part of the uppersection 9A ofthe supporting' plate the same is provided with an annularrow of upright openinasthe upper part-.31 of each beine' of smalldiameter and forming' an upper lguide and the lower part 32 being oflarger diameter and forming' a pocket, and the adjacent part of thelower section or the supporting' plate beinn'provided with a lower guideopeningY oit comparatively small diameter.

A plurality of upright tension pins are mounted in an annular row on themarginal part ot the lower supporting' plate and are adapted to `exertan upward pressure'on the blades during' the operation of assembling theparts of the fan impeller. Each of these vpins has a reduced upper part34 guided in ene of the ,guide openings 31, a reduced lower part 35guided in the companion `guide opening' 83, and an enlarged collar orcentral part 3G arranged in the respective pocket 32. Each of thesetension pins is yieldine'ly held in its elevated position so that itsupper end normally is arranged above the bottom of the channel 30 bymeans of a spring 3T arranged in the pocket around the tension pin andbearing' at its upper' end against the collar of the pin and at itslower end against the bottom of the pocket, as shown in Fig'- ure 1.

On one part of the upper end of the periphery of thel hub the same isprovided with an upwardly projecting' locating or gage pin 38 which ispreferablyv connected therewith by a bracket lli). this pin beine'adapted to engage with one of' the coupling' openings 19 in the disk,these opening" beine' utilized as grapje openings during' assembling'and uniting' of the impeller members.

The numeral 40 represents an upper pressure plate whereby a downwardpressure is exerted against theI disk of the iinpeller while the same isengaged with the gage pin SS and its blade openings are being' enpagedwith the tongues or tenons at the upper ends of the blades. The tensionplate is prefeiablj.7 constructed of circular forni and extends over thehub and is' provided on its margin with a 'depending' annularl bearingVrim il adapted to engraae with the upper side of the dislt between the,'afi'e openings and the blade openinojs at the inner and outer edgesthereof. The pressure plate is held in place and caused to bear withgradually increasing' pressure against the upper side of the impellerdisk during the assembling' operation by means which preferably consistof an upright pressure red l2 arranged within the hub of the supporting'head and connected at its lower end to the upper end of the post whileits upper part extends through a central opening' 43, in the plate 40,and a wedge t engaging' with the top of the pressure plate and passing'tl'nfough an opening' l5 in the upper end of the pressure rod.

Clamping' means are provided for securely holding` the several parts ofthe impeller in place after being' assembled and in such manner that thetongues of the blades are accessible o-n the outer sides of the ring anddisk and thus permit of riveting', spot-welding` or otherwise treatingthem for permanently connecting the blades with the disk and ring'. lnthe preferred form of these holding means the same comprise a lowerclamping ring' 46 adapted to surround the suiiportine' plate above thesupporting armsz and provided on its inner edge with an upwardly facing'annular shoulder 47 adapted to engage the outer flange of the impellerring', an iuiper clau'rping ring; #i8 provided on its inner edge with adownwardly facing' shoulder 'l-S adapted to enlgage with the upper edgeof the outer fiange on the impeller 'the same therefrom.

disk, and means for detachably connecting the lower and upper clampingrings consisting preferably of a plurality of upright tie rods 50 eachpermanently secured at one end to one of the clamping rings anddetachably connected at its opposite end with the other clamping rinO.In the preferred construction each of these rods is secured at its lowerend to the lower clamping ring and has its upper end passing through anopening in the upper clamping ring and provided with a wingl nut 5lengaging with the top of the upper clamping` ring.

For the purpose of alining the several blades and causing them to standperfectly erect and at right angles to the impeller ring and disk beforethe clamping rings are tightened on the disk and ring and to hold themin. place while the tongues on the ends of the blades are being rivetedor spot-welded alining means are provided which preferably areconstructed as follow-s:

The numeral 52 represents a plurality of alining plates, preferably fourin number and arranged equidistant in the annular space between theupper and lower clamping rings and around the annular row of impellerblades. Each of these alining plates is arranged with its fiat sidesvertical and is movable inwardly and outwardly relatively to the axis ofthe impeller for the purpose of engaging the same with opposing surfacesof two adjacent blades as well as disengaging To facilitate the entranceof each alining plate between two blades the front end of the same issharjjiened somewhat as shown at 53. Each of the alining plates isguided during its movement by means of a. bracket 54 secured to theunderside of the upper clamping ring and provided with a guideway whichreceives guiding ribs 56 on oppositesid of the respective alining plate.The path for each alining plate formed between the center of the convexside of one blade and the opposite edges of the concave side of the.adjacent blade is tangential to the axis of the impeller and the guideson the bracket-s for the alining plates are therefore arranged oncorrespondingly tangential lines, as shown in Figure 5.

0n the periphery of the upper section of the 'supporting plate, thesaine is provided at one point with a locking or gaging recess 5Topposite which the sightopening ,'13 in the outer iiange of the impellerring is to be placed for lining up this relative. to the impeller diskso that the corresponding' blade openings in the ring and disk arevertically in line with each other. The impeller ring is lie-ld in thisposit-ion during the operation of assembling the several parts of thesame by means of a locking pin 58 which is passed through the sightopening l?) and the locking recess 57, access to this opening and recessbeing afforded by providing the lower clamping ring with a cavity 59 onthe upper side of its inner edge which furnishes the necessary clearancefor this purpose, as shown in Figures 2 and 5.

The ope-ration of setting up a fan impeller by the use of thisassembling apparatus is briefly as follows:

lVhile the supporting head is resting on vthe post, the operator placesthe lower clamping ring upon the supporting arms 23 so that it surroundsthe upper section of the lower supporting plate. The ring of the tanimpeller is now placed upon the rim of the supporting plate so that itsflanges project downwardly on the inner and outer sides of this rim andthe outer flange oi-'erhangs the upwardly facing shoulder of the lowerclamping ring. The fan ring is adjusted circumferentially on the lowersupporting plate until its sight opening registers with the lockingrecess of this plate and then these parts are held in this relativeposition by passing the locking pin through this sight opening and intothis recess. The fan blades are now erected loosely on the lower ring byengaging the blade openings of the latter with the tongues on the lowerends of the blades, each pair of these openings at this time being overone of the tension pins on the lower supporting plate. Owing to thesepins at this time being yieldingly held in their uppermost. position bythe springs associated therewith the tongues of the blades do not fullyenter the blade openings so that the blades are Isupported slightlyabove the normal position which they will eventually occupy in theproper assembled position. The disk of the impeller is now placedloosely around the upper end of the hub and over the upper ends of theblades and one of its coupling openings is utilized as a. or aliningopening and engaged with the upper gage pin for holding the disk in adefinite position aga-inst circumferential displacement. Next thepressure plate is applied to the upper side of the fan disk and over thepressure rod and the pressure wedge is driven through this pinsufliciently tight to produce a slight downward pressure on the upperfan disk and the blades so that the spring pressed tension pins underthe. latter will be depressed. The operator now tilts the blades one ata time, in the proper direction to bring the upper tongues thereof intoline with the corresponding blade openings in the fan disk and afterthus aliningl the blade the same will be instantly raised by its tensionpin so that its upper tongues will enter the respective blade openingsand become interlocked therewith against lateral displacenient. rlhisoperation is repeated successive.- ly upon each blade and as each inturn snaps into place the operator tightens the wedge a little more andthus moves the preslll) flo

sure plate downwardly further in the same measure as the interlockingoit' the tongues at the upper ends ot the blades with the upper tan diskprogresses. Atteiinterloeking all o'l' the blades with the upper tandisk in this manner the upper clamping ring is placed around the upperdisk and the downwardly facing shoulder oi' this ring is engaged withthe outer flange ot the upper ian disk and this ring is loosely securedto the upper ends ot the tie rods. The alining plates are now pushedinwardly so that each passes into engagement with the tivo bladesthereby straightening up the entire circular row of blades inasmuch asthe "t'an disk causes the 'several blades to move circim'rtcn entiallyin unison. he tivo clamping rings are drawn together tightly so thatthey engage the outer flanges ot the fan ring and disk and hold themtirmly in engagement with opposite ends ot the blades and produce onerigid mass. After the impellcr has been thus placed wit-hin the grip or'the clamping device the pressure plate is removed from the top ot thelan disk and the pressure rod, thereby permitting the lower ian ring,the upper fan disk and the intermediate 'lian blades to be ren'ioved ina properly assembled position together with the clamping device and thenpresented to means whereby the outer ends of the tongues are eitherupset or riveted, soldered, spot-Welded, or otherwise acted upon toproduce a permanent connection between the blades and the ring and disk,thereby completing the operation and permitting the clamping device tobe removed for use in repeating this operation in the manner described.

llt will be apparent that this apparatus avoids the difficultyexperienced hereto-tore in assembling the members of the tan Wheelsr orimpellers, and that by the use ot this apparatus such assembling can beeffected more rapidly, easily, thoroughly and economically andmaterially reduce the cost ot manufacture.

l claim as my invention:

l. An apparatus ot the character described comprising a lower supportupon Which one side member ot a. 'fan impellcr is adapted to be mounted,spring pressed pins adapted to engage with the lower ends ot the tenonson the blades which interlock With said side member, and a pressureplate adapted to engage with the other side inember of thi` tan impellerand press the same into interlocking engagement with the tenons on theother ends ot said blades.

Q. An apparatus of the character described comprising a lower supportupon which one side member ot a tan impeller is adapted to be mounted,spring pressed pins adapted to engage with the lower ends ol the tenonson the blades Which interlock with said 'side member, and a pressureplate annular seat adapted to receive one o said annular side members inposition to be cngaged by one ot the ends otl said blades, and means torengaging the other annular side member and pressing the same against theother ends of said blades.

4l. An apparatus for assembling the annular side members and transverseblades ot a 'fan impeller comprising means for rccciv ing said parts andholding them loosely While being assembled and means tor grip- 4pingsaid parts and holding the same rigidly while completing the connectionbetween said parts.

5. An apparatus for assembing the parts of a 'fan impelier consisting ottransverse blades having tongues at opposite ends and annular sidemembers provided with openA ings to receive said tongues, comprising alower supporting plate adapted to support one ot said side members in aposition in' which the openings therein may be engaged by the tenons onone end of said blades, and gage means ar yanged on said support andadapted to interlock with the other side member and hold the same inposition for engaging its openings ivith the tenons on the other endso't said blades.

G. An apparatus for assembling the parts ol tan impeller consisting oftransverse blades having tongues at opposite ends and annular sideineml: rs provided with openings to receive said tongues. comprising alon'cr supporting plate adapted to support one otl said side members ina position inv which the openings therein may be engaged by the tenonson one end of said blades, gage means arranged on said support andadapted to interlock with the other side member and hold the saine inposition tor engaging its openings vrith the tenons on the other ends ofsaid blaues, and means for interlocking said first mentioned side memberwith said support.

7. An apparatus tor assembling the parts of a fan impeller consisting otVtransverse blades having tongues at opposite 'ends and annular sidemembers provided with openings to receive said tongues, comprising aloiver siul'iporting plate adapted to support one oi" said sidei'neinbers in a position in which the openings therein may be engagedrai lli?

by the tenons on one end o'f said blades, and means tor interlockingsaid iirst mentioned 'side members with said support.

8. An apparatus for assembling the parts of a fan impeller consistingot' transverse blades having tongues at opposite ends and annular sidemembers provided with openings to receive said tongues, comprising alower supporting plate adapted to support one of said side members in aposition in which the openings therein may be engaged by the tenons onone end of said blades and pressure plate adapted to engage the otherside member and hold its openings in interlocking engagement with thetongues at the opposite ends of said plate.

An apparatus for assembling the parts of a fan impeller consisting oftransverse blades having tongues at opposite ends and annular sidemembers provided with openings to receive said tongues, comprising alower supporting plate adapted to support one ot said side members in aposition m `which the openings therein may be engaged by the tenons onone end ot said blades, a pressure plate adapted to engage the othersidi. member and hold its openings in interlocking engagement with thetongues at the opposite ends oi said plate and spring pressed pinsmounted on said support and adapted to be engaged by the tongues at thelower ends of said blades.

10. An apparatus for assembling the parts of a fan impeller consistingof transverse blades having tongues at opposite ends and annular sidemembers provided with openings to receive said tongues, comprising u.lower supporting plate adapted to support one ot said side members in aposition in which the openings therein may be engaged by the tenons onone end of said blades, a pressure plate adapted to engage the otherside member and hold its openings in inten locking engagement with thetongues at the opposite ends of said plate, spring pressed pms mountedon said support and adapted to be engaged b v the tongues at the lowerends of said blades, a base upon which said support is mounted, atension rod connected with said base, and a wedge engaging said rod andbearing against the pressure plate.

'11. An apparatus :tor assembling the parts of a fan impeller consistingof transverse blades having tongues at opposite ends Iand annular sidemembers provided with openings to receive said tongues, comprising alower supporting plate adapted to support one of' said side members in aposition in which the openings therein may be engaged by the tenons onone end ot said blades, and a pressure plate adapted to engage the otherside member and hold its openings in interlocking engagement with thetongues at the opposite ends et said plate, and a clamping deviceIzidapted to hold said side members in engagement with said blade Whilesaid side members and blades are removed lromsaid supporting andpressure plates.

l2. An apparatus for assembling the parts of a fan impeller consistingof transverse blades having tongues at opposite ends and annularsidemembers provided with openings to receive said tongue, comprising alower supporting plate adapted to support one of said side members in aposition in which the openings therein may be engaged by the tenons onone end of said blades, and a pressure plate adapted to engage the otherside member and hold its openings in interlocking engagement with thetongues at the opposite ends or' said plate and a clamping deviceadapted to hold said side members in engagement with said blade whilesaid side members and blades are removed Jfrom said supporting andpressure plates, and compris ing two clamping rings adapted to engagethe outer sides of said side members, and tie rods each permanentlyconnected at one end with one of said clamping rings and detachablyconnected at its opposite end with the other clamping ring.

13. An apparatus for assembling the. parts of a fan impeller consistingof transverse blades having tongues at opposite ends and annular sidemembers provided with openings to receive said tongues, comprising alower supporting plate adapted to support one of said side members in aposition in which the openings therein may be engaged by the tenons onone end of said blades, and a pressure plate adapted to engage the otherside member and hold its openings in interlocking' engagement with thetongues at the opposite ends of said plate, a clamping device adapted tohold said side members in engagement with said blade while said sidemembers and blades are removed from said supporting and pressure plates,and means mounted on said clamping device and adapted to move betweensaid blades for righting them.

14. An apparatus for assembling the parts of a fan impeller consistingof transverse blades having tongues at opposite ends and annular sidemembers provided with openings to receive said tongues, comprising alower supporting plate adapted to support one of said side members in aposition in which the openings therein may be engaged by the tenons onone end of said blades and a pressure plate adapted to engage the otherside member and hold its openings in interlocking engagement with thetongues at the opposite ends of said plate, a clamping device adapted tohold said side members in engagement with said blade while said sidemembers and blades are removed from said supporting and pressure plates,and means mounted on said clamping device and adapted t0 move betweensaid blade for righting them comprising a plurality of brackets arrangedon one.' of said clamping rings, and an alining plate guided on each ofsaid brackets and movable into and out of the space between the opposingsides of two adjacent blades.

15. An apparatus for assembling the parts of a fan impeller consistingof transverse blades having tongues at opposite ends and annular side'members provided with openings to receive said tongues and also withannular flanges, comprising av lower supporting plate having a marginalrim adapted to support one of said side members with its flangesengaging opposite sides of said rim, yielding tension means mounted onsaid lower supporting plate and adapted to engage the lower ends of thetenons on said blades which interlock with the openings in said lowerside member, and a pressure plate adapted to engage the other side`member and hold the same in a position in which its openings engage withthe tongues at the upper ends ofV said blades.

16". n apparatus for assembling the parts ot' a Jfan impeller consistingof transverse blades having tongues at opposite ends and annular sidemembers provided with openings to receive said' tongues and also withannular flanges, comprising a lower supporting plate having a marginalrim adapted to support one of saidl side members with its liangesengaging opposite sides of said rim, yielding tension means mounted onsaid lower supporting plate and adapted to engage the lower ends of thetenons on said blades which interlock with the openings in said lowerside member and a. pressure plate adapted to engage the other sidemember and hold the same in a position in which its openings engage withthe tongues at tue upper ends of said blades, the upper side ot said rimbeing provided with an annular channel which receives the lower end ofsaid blades.

17. An apparatus for assembling the parts of a fan impeller consistingof transverse blades having tongues at opposite ends and annular sidemembers provided with openings to receive said tongues and also withannular fianges, comprising a lower supporting plate having a marginalrim adapted to support one of said side members with its flangesengaging opposite sides of said rim, yielding tension means mounted onsaid lower supporting` plate and adapted to engage the lower ends oiEthe tenons on said blades which interlock with the openings in saidlower side member and a pressure plate adapted to engage the other sidemember and hold the same in a position in which its openings engage withthe tongues at the upper ends of said blades, said lower supportingplate consisting oi upper and lower sections, the upper section beingprovided with an annular row of enlarged pockets and a reduced guideopening` at the upper end of each pocket and said lower plate beingprovided with a reduced guide opening below each ot said pockets, andsaid yielding tension means comprising a plurality of upright pins eachhaving reduced upper and lower ends guided in said upper and lower guideopenings and an enlarged collar between its ends arranged in therespective pocket, and a spring arranged in each pocket and bearing atits upper end against the collar of the respective pin and at its lowerend against the lower section oi said supporting plate.

EUGENE G. MCCALL.

